Control mechanism for mounting on a movable support



Jan. 3, 1956 H. M. s TUELAND 2,729,349

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING ON A MOVABLE SUPPORT Original Filed March 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

H. M. STUELAND Jan. 3, 1956 H. M. sTuELAND 2.7295349 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING ON A MOVABLE SUPORT Original Filed March 29 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR M. Suelan f By ma "1f-11 Jan. 3, 1956 H. M. sTUELAND 2,729,349

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING ON A MOVABLE SUPPORT Original Filed March 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING ON Av MOVABLE SUPPORT Harold M. Stueland, East Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere '& Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application March 29, 1951, Serial No. 218,105, now PatentNo. 2,679,943, dated June 1, 1954. Di,- vided and this application June 29, 1953, Serial No. 364,558

8 Claims. (Cl. 214-140) This application is a division of copending application,`

Serial No, 218,105, led March 29, 1951, now Patent No. 2,679,943, and the invention relates to a load-moving machine and more particularly to such machine as embodied in a tractor-mounted loader of the type that has found such wide acceptance on farmsfor the handling of manure, dirt, gravel, and other materials.

A typical tractor-mounted loader comprises a loadbearing element in the form of a boom, usually comprising a pair of longitudinal arms, one at each side of the tractor, and connected to the tractor for swinging of the front end of the boom from a lowered or working position to a raised or loading position. The materialhandling element comprises a scoop or bucket which'risf preferably carried by the forward end of the boom and has a level position while digging. The scoop is mounted for swinging to a tilted position so that the material carried thereby may be dumped into a vehicle or at some location apart from the place from which it was dug.

It is the principal feature ofthe invention to utilize a control system having a control member which may `be moved from a neutral position to an active position to cause power means to raise the boom. The control mechanism includes a control housing or equivalent structure mounted for swinging movement about a transverse pivot` as the boom structure raises. It is an object of the inf vention to arrange the control lever in such manner that itl remains substantially in its active position even though the control device to which it is connected moves through a relatively wide angular range as the boom structure raises and lowers. In this respect, it is an .object of the invention to arrange the control lever for movementin the natural direction, either forwardly or rearwardly, so that the operator has the feel or touch necessary to efficient operation of the machine. This phase of the invention utilizes'the improved control mechanism in conjunction with a hydraulic power system in which the control member operates a shiftable valve.

mounted for swinging about a transverse axis as theboom raises or lowers. At least one of the hydraulic motors has fixed thereto for movement therewith a control valve including a valve part shiftable selectively back and forth relative to the control housing but at the same time bodily movable with the housing as the housing moves with the cylinder. The control member is related to and 'intercom The hydraulic system includes one or more fluid motors, each' of which is 2,729,349 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 ice the opposite side of the machine, with the bucket shown in an intermediate raised position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View, scale, of the valve means for the hydraulic system;

Figs. 3 through 6 are fragmentary views, each on an enlarged scale, showing successive steps in the operation of the control mechanism. yReference herein to the machine as having rightand left-hand sides is made with respect to the position of an observer standing behind the machine and facing forwardly. For the purposes of brevity, there will also be used such expressions as front and rear and upper and lower. It should be understood, however, that the description in this respect is not intended to mean that the parts 'cannot be otherwise arranged.

Also, the invention is disclosed in connection with a tractor of one well-known type. Obviously, the general principles of the invention may be utilized in connection with loaders Vmounted on other tractors or even with loaders mounted on supporting frames other than the base provided by a tractor.

The tractor comprises a longitudinal body 30 carried at its rear end by rightand left-hand traction wheels 42 and 44 and at its front end by rightand left-hand steerable wheels 64 --and 66 respectively.

The loader has a frame 76 of elongated U-shaped construction having front and rear portions attached to the front'and rear portions of the tractor body. The longitudinal members of the frame 76 are provided at their rear ends` with upright'supports, only one of which is visible at 120; AThe boomY structure for the loader comprises rightand left-hand longitudinal arms 188 and 190, each of which is pivotedat its rear end to the frame structure 76 'on a transverse pivot 212, and the boom arms have at their forward ends a bucket or scoop 196.

The b'oom structure 188-190 is raised by power supplied by-a pair of fluid motors, only one of which is visible at'216. The motor 216 includes an upper mounting or bracket portion 236 by means of which a pivotal connection is effected at 240 (Figs. 3 through 6), and the free end ofthe associated piston rod is pivotally connected at 242 to the left-hand boom arm 190.

The high-pressure side of a conventional pump (not shown) is connected by a conduit 328 to a control device 330, here in the form of a'distrbuting valve housing 332 having a shiftablepart or valve member 334. The valve member has three positions; namely, neutral, raiseand lower, which are designated respectively by the letters N, R and L. The -valve housing 332 has a central valve bore 338 in which the valve member 334 is` reciprocable and the forward portion of the valve housing is provided with centering spring means 340 for the purpose of resiliently maintaining the neutral position of the valve member.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 through 6, the control device 330 is mounted directly at and on the rear end of the left-hand motor 216 and the rear end of this motor has a pair of passages 342 and 344 leading to the valve bore 338. The passage 342 communicates directly with the proximate end of the motor and the passage 344 communicates by a conduit 346 with the remote or forward end of the motor. The high-pressure line 328 is connected to the valve bore 338 by means of a port 358 intermediate the passages 342 and 344. Since both the rightand left-hand motors operate in parallel, the valve bore 338 has other motor ports for the other motor (not shown), but these are omitted in the interests of brevity.- The valve lhousing 322 has parallel to the valvebore 338 an elongated reservoir passage 368 connected by three ports 370, 372 and 374 with the valve bore 338. These ports are selectively on an enlarged presently described. In that description, .tlleggresence ofv the right-hand cylinder will be ignored in the interests of clarity. The valve member'334 is of the spool type and has the three positions .designated .L,' rN and R :in. F.ig. 2. When it is desired to .etect raising :of @the boom structure 188-190 :by 'means of the uirl `motors, `the valve member Z334 is shifted forwardly, "continuing its blockade on vthe reservoir port 374 and :connecting :the pump port 358 with the y.motor passage 344 tto :supply fluid via the conduit 346 to the ifrontuendofithe motor 216. When 'the boom Ireaches .the height desired, `the operator lreleases A.pressure-on ,the valve meni'ber 1334 and the centering spring .means 340 returns rthe valvermember .to neutral, resulting in `holding .fthe fboorn structure at-.the desired height, since themotorszagain-becnmethy-- draulically locked.

-Lowering .of -the -boom .structure :is effected yby a shifting of the valve member.334.;rearwardly yto .fits L position, which connects .all :three :reservoir for exhaust ports .37.0, .372 and l3.74 to thefinteriorvof the valve bore 338, thus communicating these ,ports with 'iboth 'motor passages 342 .and.344 and also with rthe pump `aport 358. The boom structure ldrops -quickl-y because 4of `its :own Weight, and fluid is exhausted rapidly y@from the'ifront ends :of Aboth motors. 'lhe control v:mechanism 'for'the valveis -best show-n :in Figs. 3 .through -6. As generally outlined above, the desirable tresultsought ato rbe achieved by the control mechanism centers mainly on :the .idea of arranging a control .member for :selective rmovement among three positions -to ycontrol :the valve-member-3t34- Further .than this, itis important that the Acontrol member be so arranged that `it will not `depart Ymaterially from its selected position .as .the boom structure raises and lowers, it .being remembered -thatvthe control device 330 is .carried by the fluid motor216which itself raises and .lowers with .the .boom structure.

The .upper .por-.tion of the left-hand `upright support 120 carries a -mounting :pin 380 on .-a ftransverse axis just below the gpivot 240. The pivots vat y240 Vand :380 thus vprovide irst and second .pivots 'on vertically :spaced apart parallel axes. The lower pivot 380 serves lto mount .an upright `control .member Ior'lever 382, `the 1ower portion of which .is shaped as shown at 384 and provided with an adjustable stop 386, the purposes sof which will I.presently appear. The :control `lever rextends `.upwardly past the rst pivot `:axis .240 .and -has an .intermediate part .affording .a connectingpivotpoint 388 which, when the lever .382 is in its'neutral positiomiis coincident with vthe pivot240. The l.control lever r-has ,threellpositions; namely, neutral, raise, .and lower, designated are spectively .by the letters N, .-R and L. These -positions correspond in .reverse .order with -the nent-ral, raise, yand lower positionsof the valve member 334. The reasons for reversing the .arrangement will be discussed .-below.

Fig. .3 shows .the .lowered ,positions .of the'fparts. The neutral .position `of thelever 382 yshownlin .ull lines and fthe .raised ,position of the Alever :is shown-in broken lines. Since the control .device 330is-.carried directly by the .rear `end of the motor 216 itfirnay Abefconsidered .part of the motor, .and za bracket 390.is .'-rigi'clly xed to the .combined .motor and valve .housing :andere tends. rearwardly :to .a point lintermediate the valve member 334 .and .the .main pivot axis 240, at fwhieh :point .it is .provided with -a third ipivot 392.

A lever 394 is pivoted at 392 -on the bracket 390xan'd has opposite ends 396 .and 398 spaced yequidistantly from the pivot or center 392. The upper end396 if the lever 394 is connected by ea bent Elink 400 tothe rear -end ofthe valve member 334. ."llhevlowerend 39'8 of .the lever is connected by ta link 402 to the point'388 on the lever 382. l

vOmitting for the `.moment the 'precise 4kgeometry of the arrangement, it will be seen 4lthat angular adjustment of the lever 382 `from its N position to its AR posi of the lever 382 `to its L position.

tion results in clockwise rocking of the lever 394 about its ,pivot 392. The interconnection at 40.0 between .the

lever 394 and the valve member 334 causes shifting of the valve member forwardly to its R position. At this point, the importance of the stop is emphasized. It will be seen that the p'oints398, 388 and 380 approach a straight line when the lever 382 is moved to its .rearward or R position. `Because `of inherent looseness in the parts, it might be Vpossible to force the toggle 39.8-388-.388-.380 over center. lHowever, Ithe 'stop 386 engages the .rear :edge of the zupright support .120 and prevents this undesirable result.

Also of .importance'is the fact that the angular .movement -of 'the lever "382 from its N toits .R position is relatively short. The point 388 travels on an :arc about the center 380 through a relatively small angle. When the parts are in their full-line positions as shown in Fig. 3, the opposite ends 396 and 398 of the lever 394 are substantially equidistant :from 'the coincident 'points 240,:and 388. Since lthe :bracket 390 .is fixed, 'the 'pivot 392 .is at a iixed distance from the pivot .240. Therefore, when the boom structure raises and the Imotor 216 and control device .330 pivotlrearwardly about 'the point 240, the pivot :392 travelscounterclockwise in an are about the point 240. During downward travel of the bracket 390 eabout the point 240, the angle between the -lever 394 and the .bracket remains .substantially'the same, which -means that the point 398 travels substantially 'in an arc about :the point .240. However, 'the angle between the lever 394 and the rlink 402 will change and even though the :point 398 departs slightly from a perfect arc about lthe point 240, the angle between the lever 394 and 'the link l402 becomes more acute, thus importing little `if iany direct force to the lever 382. Therefore, :the `lever 382 has 'but .slightimovement away from 4its R fposition. This movement is so small as to fbe, invetlect, .hardly appreciated by the operator.

The .importance of the above arrangement will be apparent when it is considered what disadvantageous results vwould follow if the lever 382 were materially displaceable iin its 'R position. In that event, the burdenwould be on the operator to chase" the lever during raising movement .of the boom structure. According lto 'the present design, he 'merely pulls back on the lever Vand holds -it as the boom structure raises. In fthis respect, Ithe `reversal of the movement of the valve merri'ber 334 yand lever 382 is 'simply to provide for shifting of the lever 382 in a rearward direction as the boom structure moves upwardly, resulting in a more natural control which gives the operator adequate feel or touch.

The foregoing desirable results are achieved also in the lowering of the boom structure. .As indicated in Fig. `4, a return of "the control lever from its R" position to its N position restores the valve member 334 to its neutral position. 'Fig 5 shows that the valve member 334 has been shifted rearwardly by a forward movement Again, the com.- pensating and interconnecting linkage 394-400-402 keeps the lever 382 from departing materially from its selected position during lowering movement of the boom structure. lt will be apparent in Fig. I5 that the angular movement in a forward direction of the lever 382 about its pivot 380 is somewhat greater than the rearward angular movement .as Iindicated in Fig. 3. However, this becomes relatively unimportant., since the speed of drop of the boom structure is relatively rapid and nicety of control is not as important as in raising. Evenv so, the boom structure may be eased downwardly by movement o ftheflever. 382 forwardly in small amounts. Again, the forward shifting of the lever 3`82.is `consonant with downward or forward travel of the various components asV the boom structure lowers.

arenaria j Summary j The foregoing disclosure is, as previously stated, based upon a preferred embodiment 4of the invention for the purposes of efficiently achieving the desirable results as outlined above. The novel control mechanism is such that the operator has at his fingertips a simple and convenient control involving only a single lever selectively shiftable in opposite directions from a central neutral position. Under control of this single lever, the operation of the loader at maximum efiiciency is easily effected.

Various other important features of the Vrinvention not specifically enumerated will undoubtedly ogcur `to those versed in the art, as likewise will numerous'rnodifications and alterations in the preferred embodiment of the invention; all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 4

t l. In a loader of the character described, the combination of: a support; a load-bearing element movably carried by the support for movement between raised and lowered positions; fiuid power means connected be# tween Vthe support and element for effecting raising and lowering of the element, and including afluid motor swingable on the support on a vfirst transverse pivot; a control valve housing fixed to the motor above said first pivot, and having a valvepart including..A a rear end portion projecting rearwardly of the first pivot and shiftable selectively forwardly and rearwardly relative to the housing for controlling the motor; a control `lever pivoted to ythe support for adjustment selectively back and forth about a second transverse pivot below the first pivot and extending upwardly to a point coincident at times with the first pivot; a bracket fixed to the motor? and having a third.` transverse pivot intermediate the first pivot and the rear end portion of the valve member; and means for shiftingl the control part by adjustment of the control member between its neutral and active positions and arranged so that raising of the aforesaid element is without substantial effect on ythe adjusted position of the control member, said means comprising a lever rockable on the third pivot and having upper and lower ends respectively above and below said third pivot,l link means connecting the upper end of the lever to the rear end pontion of the valve member, and link means connecting the lower end of the lever to the aforesaid point on the control member. d

2. In an implement having a supporting frame and an element carried by the frame for vertical movement relative to the frame between raised and lowered positions, the combination of: power means connected to the element and pivoted on the frame on a first pivot for upward and rearward movement as the element raises and for downward and forward movement as the element lowersra control device for controlling the power means and carried by the power means for movement therei with about said first pivot; a control part carried by the control device for movement bodily therewith but arranged for shifting forwardly relative to the ,control device to cause the power means to raise the yelement and for shifting rearwardly relative to the control device to cause the power means to effect lowering of the element; a control member pivoted on the frame on a second transverse pivot spaced from the first pivot and having a point thereon spaced from said second pivot a distance equal to the spacing between said pivots, said control member being angularly adjustable about the second pivot between a neutral position in which said point is coincident with the first pivot and an active position in which said point is spaced slightly behind said first pivot; and motion-reversing means connected between the control member and the shiftable part for effecting forward movement of said part in response to rearward adjustment of the control member, said means including a connection t0 the control member at said point thereon so that raising of the element is without substantial effect on the' adjusted position of the control member. l

, 3. In an implement having a supporting frame and an element carried by the frame for vertical movement relative tothe frame between raised 'and lowered positions, the combination of: power means connected to the element and pivoted on the frame on a first pivot for upward and rearward movement as the element raises and for downward and forward movement as the element lowers; a control device for controlling the power means and carried Zby the power means for movement therewith about said first pivot; a control part carried by the control device for movement bodily therewith but ar ranged for shifting forwardly'relative to the control device tov vrcause the power means to raise the velement and for shifting rearwardly relative to the controldevice to. cause the power means toefect lowering of the element; a control member pivoted on the frame on .a second ,0., transverse "pivot spaced from the first pivot and having 2 t. t

a point thereon spaced from said second pivotsa distance equal to the spacing between said pivots, 'said control member beingangularly adjustable about the second pivot between a neutral position in which-`said pointis coincident with the first pivot and an active position in whichsaid point is spaced slightly behind said first pivot; a bracket on the control device providing a third pivot swingable in an arc aboutrthe first pivot as the control device swings with the power means; and meansE for shifting the control part by adjustment of the control member between its neutral and active positions and arranged so that raising of the aforesaid element is without substantial effect on the adjusted position of the control member, said means comprising a'lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the third pivot, a first link connecting one end of the lever to the shiftable control part, and a second link connecting the other end of the lever to the control member at said point.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, further characterized in that: the ends of the lever are equidistant from said third pivot and are also equidistant from said point on the control member when the control member is in its neutral position.

5. Control mechanism of the character described, comprising: a support; a controllable device carried by the support for swinging about a first pivot axis among any one of several positions of angularity relative to the support, and including a shiftable control part; a control member swingable back and forth on the support about a second pivot axis parallel to and spaced on the support from the first pivot axis and having a neutral position in which a point on said control member is coincident with said first pivot axis whereby said point travels in an arc about the second pivot axis when the control member is adjusted relative to said neutral position; and force-transmitting means interconnecting the shiftable part and the control member and having a pivotal connection to the control member at said point for enabling swinging of the controllable device without substantial effect on the neutral position of the control member.

6. Control mechanism of the character described, comprising: a support; a control valve housing carried by the support for swinging about a first pivot axis among any one of several positions of angularity relative to the support, and having a reciprocable valve member shiftable to either side of a neutral position; a control member carried on the support for angular adjustment about a second parallel pivot axis to either side of a neutral position in which a point on the control member is coincident with the first pivot axis so that said point swings on an arc about the second pivot axis and through the first pivot axis as the control member is adjusted; and linkr means connected at one end to the valve member and at the other end to the control member at said point for enabling swinging of the control valve housing without submamas.

stantial` effect,on.the neutral .position of the. control mem ber.

7. Controlmeclianm of'fthe character,described,A compri'sing; a supportpa uicllmoton carriedon the support on a frstpivot axis for swi'ngingamonganyone of sev4 eralpostions ot angularity relative to the support', a control valvehousing carridby and` bodily movable with the motor an'd"i`ncl'uding,a valve member adjustable from a neutral' position xi'ng the motor i'n one position to an active position for initiating, swinging. of` the motor; andmeans for adjusting the valve irrespective ofthe angular'position assumed by the motor and valve housing, including acontrolmembler, carriedon the support on a secondpivot'axis spaced from the aforesaid 'rst' pivot axis ormovement from andreturn toa central` position,

said control member havingA a part movable' therewith.

and so positionedthereon astotravel in a relatively small rangeproximateto said'ftrst'pivot'v axis, and said means also including atome-transmitting element connected to the valvememberf and: additionally'havi'ng a pivotal connectionrtorthe4 control1member'partso'that; upon swingingrofrthe'motorand va'lvehousingin responseto active positioningjoffthevalve'by'active'positioning of the controltmember,l saidpivotal'connectionA enables relative pivotal-v movement between'the'valve and control members without' causingsaidV membersl to change their respective active positions;

- 8^'. Gontrolmechanismo'f` the character described; comprising: asupport; a` control housing'carried'byl the' support on a rst pivot axisfor. swinging among any one of several positions of angularity relative to the support and including afshiftablepart movabl'ef-bodily'with but r'eliitivetoy the housing selectively back and4 forth' between neutral'and-.activefpositions along a straight l'nespaced" radially'. to one-sid'e;ofthe-lirst pivot axis; acontrolimem'- bercarriedion-l the supporti for" angular adjustment between neutral and-activepositions about a sec'ondp'ivotl axisvv spaced radially to/ the other' sideof" tlie'iirst'pivot axis andharranged so thatl a pointthereon-travels` in arelatively small rangeproximate to the-first pivot' axis; a bracket fixed' to` the control-V housing andi providinga 'xed third pivot ax-isinterm'ediate said''lrstl pivot axisand theaforesaid straight line; and link andv levermeans'connectingfv the shiftablepart'to the control m'emberfor enabling swinging of the-7 housing and shiftabl'e part with* out' substantial-eifect on either the neutral or active positions of the shiftable part and controlv member, said'link the shiftable part, and a link element connected to thel otherr endof the lever and havinga pivotal connection to the control member ,at the aforesaidv point.

No references4 cited. 

